The National Peace Committee led by former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd),

 

 

has stepped in to ease the political tension, ahead of this Saturday’s Governorship inconclusive elections.

 

 

The highly respected body of elders met with party leaders in Benue and Bauchi states to plead with them to peacefully accept the outcome of the supplementary elections.

 

 

The committee during the meeting on Wednesday urged political leaders to educate their followers on why they should conduct themselves peacefully as they await the outcome of the elections.

 

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will organise rerun elections in five states on Saturday.

 

 

The electoral body had declared the governorship elections held on March 9, in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto states inconclusive, and subsequently fixed March 23 for run-offs.

 

 

With barely two days to go, the police have beefed up security in violent-prone states in order to ensure a peaceful conduct of the supplementary elections.

 

 

The military also warned its personnel against unlawful involvement in the supplementary elections.

 

 

Hakeem Otiki, general officer commanding (GOC), 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto, gave the warning while taking over the command of the Division.

 

 

Otiki cautioned officers and soldiers against involving themselves in the coming supplementary elections without proper authorisation from army headquarters.

 

 

According to him, any officer found leading men to any town or polling station without permission will be investigated and sanctioned accordingly.

 

 

The order comes as the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has said that it has “intercepted credible intelligence” of a fresh plot by the All Progressives Congress, APC, against the Emir of Kano and Sultan of Sokoto State, Post Nigeria reports.

 

 

It said that the APC is planning to “depose” the Monarchs, for allegedly refusing to bow to pressure to take sides in the upcoming supplementary Governorship elections, in their respective States.

 

 

Imo Ugochinyere, the CUPP Spokesperson, in a statement, on Tuesday night, pointed out that the Leaders of the APC, are accusing the Monarchs of taking sides with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

 

 

“We make bold to say that this is a lie from the pit of hell. The Emir and Sultan are rather appealing for calm, and for the will of the people to be respected”, the CUPP said.

 

 

“Leaders of the ruling party, are boasting and threatening that if they win, they will force them out, by setting up State House of Assembly Panels to indict them of corruption and force them out, using Presidential support.

 

 

 

“They are also considering the use of the CJN option, against these respected Monarchs. This move to drag the sacred stools of the forefathers of these two States, is an invitation to full blown anarchy. We are warning the APC Leaders to back out of this nonsense, for the good and stability of the entire country.

 

 

 

 

“The move to militarise Sokoto and write figures from selected polling units, has been perfected like they did in Rivers State, and we must standup against that. We call on the people of Kano and Sokoto States to not just vote, but vote and defend their votes for their future, and the preservation of the stools of their forefathers.

 

 

 

“They must also arrest and grab any vote buyer at polling units, using the Opposition Code 20 powers of private arrest.

 

 

 

“The APC government should not try with rigging, because the tension is higher than that of 1983, and any of such move will spell doom for our democracy. Our final advice for them is to allow the will of the people to prevail.”

 

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